Laborem exercens Laborem exercens

Sato, MikieSato, Mikie

Sison, Jacqueline Sison, Jacqueline

Tan, GabrielTan, Gabriel

HistoryHistory

Written by Pope John Paul IIWritten by Pope John Paul II May 15 1981 May 15 1981 May 13 1981May 13 1981 September 14 1981September 14 1981

5 main divisions of the encyclical5 main divisions of the encyclical

IntroductionIntroduction Work and manWork and man Conflict between labour and capital Conflict between labour and capital

in the present phase of historyin the present phase of history Right of workersRight of workers Elements for a spirituality of workElements for a spirituality of work

I. INTRODUCTIONI. INTRODUCTION1. Human Work on the Ninetieth 1. Human Work on the Ninetieth Anniversary of Rerum NovarumAnniversary of Rerum Novarum

New developments in technological, New developments in technological, economic and political conditions economic and political conditions which, according to many experts, which, according to many experts, will influence the world of work and will influence the world of work and production.production.

Work is fundamentalWork is fundamental

2. In the Organic Development of 2. In the Organic Development of the Church's Social Actionthe Church's Social Action

The present reflections on work are The present reflections on work are not intended to follow a different line, not intended to follow a different line, but rather to be in organic but rather to be in organic connection with the whole tradition connection with the whole tradition of this teaching and activity. of this teaching and activity.

3. The Question of Work, the Key 3. The Question of Work, the Key to the Social Questionto the Social Question

““Making life more human”Making life more human”

4. In the Book of Genesis4. In the Book of Genesis The Church is convinced that work is The Church is convinced that work is

a fundamental dimension of man's a fundamental dimension of man's existence on earth. existence on earth.

II. WORK AND MANII. WORK AND MAN

5. Work in the Objective Sense: 5. Work in the Objective Sense: TechnologyTechnology

work in an objective sense work in an objective sense

the proper subject of work continues the proper subject of work continues to be man. to be man.

It facilitates his work, perfects, It facilitates his work, perfects, accelerates and augments it accelerates and augments it

6. Work in the Subjective Sense: 6. Work in the Subjective Sense: Man as the Subject of WorkMan as the Subject of Work

It only means that the primary basis It only means that the primary basis of the value of work is man himself, of the value of work is man himself, who is its subject. who is its subject.

7. A Threat to the Right Order of 7. A Threat to the Right Order of ValuesValues

Christian truth about work had to Christian truth about work had to oppose the various trends of oppose the various trends of materialistic and economistic materialistic and economistic thought. thought.

8. Worker Solidarity8. Worker Solidarity

It was the reaction against the It was the reaction against the degradation of man as the subject of degradation of man as the subject of work.work.

9. Work and Personal Dignity9. Work and Personal Dignity

Without this consideration it is Without this consideration it is impossible to understand the impossible to understand the meaning of the virtue of meaning of the virtue of industriousness.industriousness.

10. Work and Society: Family 10. Work and Society: Family and Nationand Nation

Work constitutes a foundation for the Work constitutes a foundation for the formation of formation of family life, family life, which is a which is a natural right and something that natural right and something that man is called to. man is called to.

III. CONFLICT BETWEEN III. CONFLICT BETWEEN LABOUR AND CAPITAL IN THE LABOUR AND CAPITAL IN THE PRESENT PHASE OF HISTORYPRESENT PHASE OF HISTORY

11. Dimensions of the Conflict11. Dimensions of the Conflict

Work is seen as a great reality with a Work is seen as a great reality with a fundamental influence on the fundamental influence on the shaping in a human way of the world shaping in a human way of the world that the Creator has entrusted to that the Creator has entrusted to man.man.

12. The Priority of Labour12. The Priority of Labour

This principle directly concerns the This principle directly concerns the process of production.process of production.

13. Economism and Materialism13. Economism and Materialism

In the light of the above truth we see clearly, first of all, that capital cannot be separated from labour

14. Work and Ownership14. Work and Ownership

The right to private property is The right to private property is subordinated to the right to common subordinated to the right to common use, to the fact that goods are meant use, to the fact that goods are meant for everyone. for everyone.

15. The "Personalist" Argument15. The "Personalist" Argument

The principle of the priority of labour The principle of the priority of labour over capital is a postulate of the over capital is a postulate of the order of social morality. order of social morality.

IV. RIGHTS OF WORKERSIV. RIGHTS OF WORKERS16. Within the Broad Context of 16. Within the Broad Context of

Human RightsHuman Rights

Work is, as has been said, Work is, as has been said, an an obligation, obligation, that is to say, a that is to say, a duty, on duty, on the part of man. the part of man. This is true This is true in all the in all the many meanings of the word.many meanings of the word.

17. Direct and Indirect Employer17. Direct and Indirect Employer

The concept of indirect employer is The concept of indirect employer is applicable to every society, and in applicable to every society, and in the first place to the State. For it is the first place to the State. For it is the State that must conduct a just the State that must conduct a just labour policy. labour policy.

18. The Employment Issue18. The Employment Issue

The question of finding work, or, in The question of finding work, or, in other words, the issue of other words, the issue of suitable suitable employment for all who are capable employment for all who are capable of itof it 19. Wages and Other Social 19. Wages and Other Social

BenefitsBenefits The key problem of social ethics in The key problem of social ethics in

this case is that of this case is that of just remuneration just remuneration for work done. for work done.

20. Importance of Unions20. Importance of Unions

The right of association, The right of association, that is to that is to form associations for the purpose of form associations for the purpose of defending the vital interests of those defending the vital interests of those employed in the various professions. employed in the various professions.

21. Dignity of Agricultural Work21. Dignity of Agricultural Work

In many situations radical and urgent In many situations radical and urgent changes are therefore needed in changes are therefore needed in order to restore to agriculture-and to order to restore to agriculture-and to rural people-their just value rural people-their just value as the as the basis for a healthy economy, basis for a healthy economy, within within the social community's development the social community's development as a whole. as a whole.

22. The Disabled Person and 22. The Disabled Person and WorkWork

Serious form of discrimination. The Serious form of discrimination. The various bodies involved in the world various bodies involved in the world of labour, both the direct and the of labour, both the direct and the indirect employer, should therefore by indirect employer, should therefore by means of effective and appropriate means of effective and appropriate measures foster the right of disabled measures foster the right of disabled people to professional training and people to professional training and work, so that they can be given a work, so that they can be given a productive activity suited to them. productive activity suited to them.

23. Work and the Emigration 23. Work and the Emigration QuestionQuestion

The most important thing is that the The most important thing is that the person working away from his native person working away from his native land, whether as a permanent land, whether as a permanent emigrant or as a seasonal worker, emigrant or as a seasonal worker, should not be should not be placed at a placed at a disadvantage disadvantage in comparison with the in comparison with the other workers in that society in the other workers in that society in the matter of working rights. matter of working rights.

V. ELEMENTS FOR A V. ELEMENTS FOR A SPIRITUALITY OF WORKSPIRITUALITY OF WORK

24. A Particular Task for 24. A Particular Task for the Churchthe Church

The whole person, body and spirit, The whole person, body and spirit, participates in it, whether it is participates in it, whether it is manual or intellectual work. manual or intellectual work.

25. Work as a Sharing in the 25. Work as a Sharing in the Activity of the CreatorActivity of the Creator

This description of creation, which we This description of creation, which we find in the very first chapter of the find in the very first chapter of the Book of Genesis, is also Book of Genesis, is also in a sense in a sense the first "gospel of work".the first "gospel of work".

26. Christ , the Man of Work26. Christ , the Man of Work

He who proclaimed it was himself a He who proclaimed it was himself a man of work, man of work, a craftsman like Joseph a craftsman like Joseph of Nazareth.of Nazareth.

27. Human Work in the Light of 27. Human Work in the Light of the Cross and the Resurrection the Cross and the Resurrection

of Christof Christ

This toil connected with work marks This toil connected with work marks the way of human life on earth and the way of human life on earth and constitutes constitutes an announcement of an announcement of death: death: "In the sweat of your face you "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken" ground, for out of it you were taken"

ConclusionConclusion

WORKWORK Man should work to live.Man should work to live. Work is for man and not man for work.Work is for man and not man for work. There should be equal distribution of wealth There should be equal distribution of wealth

and poverty among countries and and poverty among countries and continents.continents.

Affirms right of laborAffirms right of labor Affirms dignity of work and laborAffirms dignity of work and labor Calls for workplace of justiceCalls for workplace of justice